Doctor to run OX5 for children he has treated

A CHILDREN’S doctor has been inspired by the youngsters he treats to take part in the OX5RUN for Oxford Children’s Hospital.

Viz Ravindran and colleagues Hide Baba and Dominic Pimenta will take on the five-mile run at Blenheim Palace in 17 days’ time.

The run on Sunday, March 30, is the Headington hospital’s biggest annual fundraiser and last year raised £98,000.

Dr Ravindran, 25, who started working as a junior doctor in August, said: “You see a lot of the struggles the kids and their parents go through. Seeing it firsthand brings it really close to home. The children just keep going basically; a lot of them are little fighters no matter how much they go through.”

Dr Ravindran, who lives in Marston, has been working mainly in the Robin’s Ward for children’s surgery.

He said: “The thing that comes to mind at the children’s hospital is how hard people work – not just the staff but the parents and children too.”

Dr Ravindran, who trained in London and Slough, said: “I also just thought because I am new to Oxford it was a good way to get involved in the community.”

Children’s hospital spokesman Sarah Vaccari said: “We are thrilled that Viz and his colleagues on Robin’s Ward in the Children’s Hospital are taking part in the OX5RUN.

“Our staff work so hard to make the children’s hospital a really special place, so to see them going the extra mile in this way is fantastic.”

She added: “We’d encourage anyone intending to take part to sign up now, to avoid disappointment.”

So far 1,100 runners have signed up to take part with more than two weeks to go.

The OX5 Run, which is organised by the Oxford Mail and sponsored by recruitment firm Allen Associates, starts at 10.30am.

It costs £10 to enter and all runners are asked to raise £100 or more.

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